Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is often recommended when the function of the jaw is compromised due to misalignment, injury, or birth defect. Patients with a misaligned jaw often struggle with daily functions, such as chewing and speaking. Some patients also experience oral health issues and/or imbalanced facial aesthetics. Orthodontic correction is often a successful course of treatment for mild to moderate jaw issues, but surgical correction may be necessary for more severe cases. 

Our oral surgeons, Dr. Falk, Dr. Moody, and Dr. Yau, perform a wide scope of jaw surgery procedures to improve the function of the jaw and restore facial balance. We offer orthognathic surgery to our patients at our practices in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.

What Is Corrective Jaw Surgery?

For most patients, the main purpose of corrective jaw surgery is to correct the alignment of the jaw. Since jaw surgery is an invasive and complicated procedure, it is often recommended for severe cases of jaw misalignment, and/or when more conservative treatments fail to work. A patient may be recommended for corrective jaw surgery if they are experiencing any of the following:

• Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing
• Sleep apnea
• Chronic and severe TMJ pain
• Lips or teeth that do not come together (open bite)
• Jaw that protrudes or recedes
• Breathing difficulties

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or have been referred for corrective jaw surgery, please contact us for a consultation. Always operating with the highest standard of care, our oral surgeons will design a treatment plan just for you. 

Double Jaw Surgery

Most cases of jaw surgery involve correcting either the upper or the lower jaw. Sometimes, both the upper and the lower jaw must be surgically corrected at once to restore function, balance, and aesthetics. Double jaw surgery is a correctional jaw surgery that realigns, resizes, or reshapes both the upper and lower jaws. Our oral surgeons perform the full scope of corrective jaw surgery at their practice, including double jaw surgery. Contact us to schedule an appointment with an experienced oral surgeon who can optimize the way your jaw looks and functions.

Orthognathic Surgery Procedure

In short, orthognathic surgery involves reshaping, resizing, and/or repositioning the jaw with the use of wires, plates, and screws. Our experienced oral surgeons and surgical staff will make sure you feel as comfortable as possible before, during, and after your procedure. To enhance your experience, promote healing, and minimize the risk of complications, please follow all pre- and post-operative instructions.

Many treatments for correcting the jaw involve a joint effort between your oral surgeon, your dentist, and/or your orthodontist. Oftentimes, the mouth is prepared with braces before surgical correction.

Jaw surgery is an invasive procedure and can be quite extensive in nature. While patients can resume work or school after 2 to 4 weeks following jaw surgery, the bone will take several more weeks of healing. It is not unusual to experience numbness in the lips, cheeks, and chin up to 1 year after surgery. Patients will follow up with their oral surgeon and other specialists regularly to make sure the healing process is on track. Please follow all post-surgical guidelines during this time.

Please contact us to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our board-certified oral surgeons, who will create a treatment plan that will optimize the function and aesthetics of your jaw. If you have any questions about your treatment at any time, please give us a call.